Recoil mechanism for firearms



April 16, 1957` v. A. BRowNlNG RECOIL MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS 2Sheets-Shea?I l Filed July 18, 1955 Il@ ,.122 l VAL A. BPO W/V//VG April16, 1957 V. A. BROWNING Racon. MECHANI'sT/FFOR FIREARMS Filed July 18,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FVG.

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INVENTOR VAL A. BROWN/NG ATTORNEYS BECIL MECHANISM FR FIREARMS Val A.Browning, Ogden, Utah, assigner to Browning Industries, inc., Ogden,Utah, a corporation of Utah Application July 18, 1955, Serialy No.522,679

2 Claims. (Cl. 89-177) The present invention relates in general tofirearms and more especially to firearms having a barrel and breechblock adapted to recoil, upon tiring the gun, and means for restoringthe barrel vand breech block to firing position.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact ruggedrecoil-absorbing device, whereby the effects of recoil on the shooterare lessened, utilizing aspmuch as possible parts presently beingmanufactured, and allowing by the compactness of design the addition ofa limited magazine capacity to certain self-loading firearms.

A further object of this invention is to combine with a recoilaabsorbingdevice on a firearm either with or without a magazine a simplifiedinexpensive take-down arrangement whereby the barrel and frame arereadily separable, within such a minimum of space as would allow themaximum freedom in the design of a functional and aestheticallysatisfying forearm.

A still further object of the invention is to provide with a firearm arecoil-absorbing device and take-down latch which require a minimum ofhand fitting or close manufacturing tolerance for the successifulmanufacture and inexpensive assembly or repair of the firearm.

Still another object is to provide a recoil-absorbing device wherein theoperating parts are suiciently protected from abrasion or corrosion andat the same time providing such a mechanism which is of light weight andcompact size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recoilabsorbing devicehaving an improved action in counterrecoil whereby ejection is improvedand the time of counter-recoil is lessened.

Other objects will be in part obvious, Aand in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter. Y f

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa fragmentary side View of a firearm embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is an `enlarged fragmentary side view with the recoil mechanismin cross section;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

States i arent Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the recoil mechanismwith the barrel removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View, in longitudinal section, of the upperportion of the sleeve which constitutes the barrel guide; and

Fig. 6 is `a fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the firearm in which the present invention isembodied comprises a receiver 10 having a stock 12 xed to the rear endthereof and provided with the usual ejection opening- 14. vSlidablymounted in the front of the receiver 10 is a barrel 16 having the usualbarrel extension 18 which is slidably received in the receiver.

It will be understood that when the firearm is fired, the barrel andbarrel extension recoil rearwardly relative to the receiver 10 tooperate the breech block, which Mounted on the tube 22 and concealingthe same is a forearm 24, preferably formed of wood, which is gen#erally V-shaped in section which is slidably mounted-on the tube 22. Theforearm 24 is secured to the tube 22 by means of a holding screw 26which is threadably received in a closure cap 28 which is threaded onthe for-v ward end of the tube 22. Preferably, the forward vend of theforearm 24 is countersunk, as indicated, to conceal the head of theholding screw 26.

Slidably mounted on the exterior of the tube 22`is'a barrel guide 30generally in the form of a sleeve and provided with a raised platform32on which the barrel is adapted to be releasably mounted. The mounting ofthe barrel 16 on the platform 32 is accomplished by means of dependingT-shaped lug 34. It will be 4observed that, recessed in the top of theplatform 32, is an extended well 36 with an undercut groove 38 on itsside walls andv with the groove cut away in the forward half along thewalls in such a manner as to detachably accommodate the T-shaped lug 34depending from the under side of the barrel. the rear edge of the lug 34is adapted to seat, and the lug is held in seated position by atransverseA pin 42. The pin 42 is slotted as indicated at 44 toaccommodate a small retainer pin 46 which permits the pin 42 to be slidto releasing position without permitting the pin to bev entirely removedvand thus possibly lost. A springpressed plunger 48 mounted in the rearwall ofthe well 36 engages the barrel lug and urges it forwardly againstthe transverse pin 42, thus eliminating any `looseue'ss which mightresult from manufacturing tolerances. As a result of this arrangement,it will be seen lthat the barrel may be removed from the barrel guide30, after the forearm has been removed as previously described, merelyby displacing the transverse pin 42 with a suitable tool, and thensliding the barrel forwardly relative to the barrel guide 3d, whichbrings the T-shaped lug 34 to the enlanged portion of the well 36,whereupon the barrel may be removed from the barrel guide and the barrelmay be slid forwardly to remove the same from the receiver.

The forward end of the barrel guide 30 is apertured as shown at 50 toreceive a barrel guide pin 52 which intersects vertically the axis ofthe barrel guide and Valso the recoil tube, the pin 52 being freelyreceived Awithin two longitudinal slots 54, 56 opposing each otherhorizontally along the axis of the recoil tube.

62 having a diameter just slightlysmaller-than the tubev 22, and also anauxiliary recoil spring 64 of smallerl di- YPatented Apr. 16, 1957 Thewell 36 has a rear wall 40 againstwhich The barrelV guide pin 52 has ahead 58 concentric with the pin, whichA ameter than the main recoilspring 62 and disposed coaxially therein. Cooperating `with the forwardend of the main recoil spring 62 is a friction device 63comprisingalongitudinally split friction ring 66 which is bounded by twoconical rings 68 which seat in complementary conical .surfaces onopposite ends of the friction ring 66. The forward conical ring 68 bearsyagainst the barrel guide pin 52, whereby the recoil energy of thebarrel is transmitted through the friction device and to the main recoilspring 62. This arrangement is such that -any compressive force exertedlongitudinally against the faces of the conical rings tends to expandthe friction ring against the inside of the recoil tube 22 and Athusassists in absorbingv recoil energy.

The inner or auxiliary recoil spring 64 is provided with a yheadedspring guide 70 which extends through the friction device and abutsagainst the barrel guide pin 52. Thus the recoil energy of the barrelalso is transmitted to the auxiliary recoil spring .64, this beingaccomplished directly without the intervention of a friction device.

The rearward ends of the main recoil spring 62 and auxiliary .recoilspring 64 abut against a transverse pin 72 intersecting horizontally theaxis of the tube 22 and reinforced by a `ring 74 closely fitted andrigidly and permanently fixed to the tube 22. Because of the compactnessof the dual recoil spring arrangement previously described, it ispossible to locate the pin 72 ysufficiently forwardly ,in the tube 22`so as to provide a magazine section to the rear thereof denoted at 76having a capacity of one cartridge. The magazine is provided with amagazine .spring 78 and magazine spring retaining disc 80. It will -beunderstood Vthat a magazine follower (not shown) in the rearward end ofspring 78 will feed the contents of the .magazine to the loadingmechanism of the firearm during the cycle of firing in the regularfashion shown fin ,the prior art.

Forwardly of the barrel guide pin 52 and also protectively housed withinthe tube 22 is a relatively strong buffer spring 82 which abuts at theforward end against the closure cap 28 and which is provided at itsrearward end with a spring guide 84, which in turn bears against thebarrel .guide pin 52. Preferably, the rearmost coil ofthe buffer spring82 is cinched on the spring guide 84 to prevent separation .of `thesetwo members. As best shown in Fig. '2, the spring guide 84 is recessedat 86 and the 'holding screw 26 is necked down as indicated at 88 so .as'to provide ample `clearance during counter-recoil.

`It is an advantage of the invention that the correct longitudinaladjustment of the barrel with relation to the receiver and relatedbreeching parts is a function of and may be easily adjusted byadjustment of the cap 28. A simple -twist of the cap one way or theother transfers a ylongitudinal movement forward or back through thebuffer spring and its spring guide to the barrel guide pin, compressingor decompressing the recoil springs, and thus to the 'barrel guide whichholds the barrel. The relative strength of the buffer spring is suchthat the pressure of the -recoil 4spring on it exes this powerful springa negligible amount, 'thereby making the buffer spring a suitable and`reliable stop for the barrel guide pin.

Upon firing the gun, the parts being in their normal firing 'position asshown in Fig. 2, the barrel recoils within its recess inthe receiver andthrough its connection with lthe `barrel guide 30 moves this memberrearwardly along the recoil tube 22. The barrel guide pin 52 ridingvertically in the recoil tube slots, 54, 56 progresses rearwardly withthe travel of the barrel against the friction of the friction ring 66and the resilience of the recoil springs. The action of the conicalrings 68 expands the friction .ring against the inner sides of the tube.The barrel guide, being a close fit about the tube and reciprocatng inunison with .the .friction piece, supports the tube .alongrthe sectionof-.stress ,throughout the firing cycle.

l.-'Ille:combined action of the friction ring 66, the recoil spring 62and the auxiliary barrel return spring 64 is such that the -recoilmovement -of the barrel is entirely stopped on this resilient mechanismwithout any violent contact between barrel and receiver.

The barrel, at the conclusion of the recoil stroke, is urged forward bythe stored energy in the recoil springs and begins its counter-recoilstroke. The auxiliary bar-l rel return spring 63 acts directly on thebarrel guide pin S2 and thus directly on the mass of barrel and barrelguide and thereby diminishes the compressive force on the friction conesand ring. Thus the friction mechanism is less active than wouldordinarily be the case if the bar-rel mass were being driven forwardlyentirely by the recoil spring. The barrel in its counter-recoil strokeis in this way intentionally speeded up so that the ejector, fixed toand traveling with the barrel extension, strikes the just fired shell alively blow, driving it more forcibly and Vregularly from the ejectionopening.

Due to the mass and velocity of the counter-recoiling parts, these sameparts tend vto continue their journey when they again reach firingposition. The buffer spring 82 is placed such that the barrel guide pinstrikes it along its length and the forward motion is resilientlystopped.

When it is -desired to take the gun down, that is, separate the barrelfrom the action frame, the sequence of operations is as follows: With asuitable dat object, such as a coin, unscrew the screw 26 andremove itfrom the front of the forearm. The forearm may then be removed byslipping it forwardly along the length of recoil tube until its rearclears the recoil tube cap 28. Using the turned section 88 of theforearm screw as a drift pin, force the barrel assembly pin laterally ofthe axis of the barrel. The length of the turned section of the forearmscrew is `.such that it is just possible to move the assembly pin farenough laterally to clear the front of the barrel lug. Upon removing theassembly pin, it is then possible to slide the barrel lug forward intothe enlarged section of the barrel Vguide well. With this same forwardmovement of the barrel the union between barrel extension and receiveris cleared and the barrel may be lifted clear of the frame.

In storing the firearm in a take-down position, the forearm wouldnormally be replaced over the recoil tube without the barrel in placeand the forearm screw reattached. This would prevent loss and diminishthe hazard ofthe damage to these parts.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description kor shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Itis also ,to be understood that the language used in the followingclaims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features yofthe invention herein described and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

I claim:

l. In a firearm of the type having a receiver and a barrel mounted forreciprocation with respect to said receiver, a recoil mechanismcomprising a tube extending forwardly from the receiver beneath thebarrel and having a longitudinal slot, a barrel guide in the form of asleeve slidably mounted on the exterior of the tube and having .meansextending into the tube through said slot, a first recoil .spring withinthe tube, friction means between said recoil spring and the extendingmeans of the sleeve, a second recoil spring in the tube engaging theextending means of the barrel guide, and a buffer spring forwardly ofsaid extending means supported by the tube.

2. In a firearm of lthe type having a receiver and a barrel mounted yforreciprocation with respect to said receiver,ia recoil mechanismcomprising a tube extending forwardly from the receiver beneathrthebarrel and having a longitudinal slot, a barrel guide in the form of asleeve siidably mounted on the exterior of the tube and having meansextending into the tube through said slot, a rst recoil spring withinthe tube, friction means between said recoil spring and the extendingmeans of the sleeve, a second recoil spring in the tube engaging theextending means of the barrel guide, a resilient buffer in the tubeforwardly of said extending means, and an ad instable seat for thebuffer on the forward end of the tube for varying the ring position ofthe barrel guide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HorneIan. 14, 1902 Lovelace May 18, 1909 Green Ian. 16, 1940 Roemer Ian. 21,1941 Browning Mar. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 21, 1951

